NaNoWriMo: Week 2

Today's just a brief stop to bring an update to NaNoWriMo. I have been attempting NaNoWriMo for the last 7 years and this is the first time I've actually plotted the novel I've been writing, and boy does that make a big difference. For previous novels I have tried plotting, but this usually just goes astray by chapter 3 and I end up becoming a pantser. I can definitely see the benefits of being a plotter as it did help me focus on the words to be written for that particular plot point rather than, where am I going to go from here.

NaNoWriMo: 46k

Are you more of a plotter or pantser?

NaNoWriMo: Mid-story blues

I know what you're thinking, it's only the 7th November, who can I possibly have the mid-story blues already? Well, that's what I get for powering ahead (32k so far)... and now I've reached a point that I have totally slowed down as I try to figure out what to put. The worst part about this slump is I'm writing from an outline so I know where I need to go.

This seems to be the same slump I get in for all my stories. Every time I reach the middle of the story I always seem to reach a block and try to figure out what's good about the story. Then I get that evil voice at the back of my head saying 'will anyone read this?', 'Is this original?', 'Am I waisting my time?'

This is the point that I need to take a break, and to me a break was getting out with my camera and taking pictures of my dogs running (okay, so that was for an assignment for my photography course, but it was still a break).

Now hopefully I can return to my novel and finish it so I can start working on the other's I've still got sitting around.

What do you do if you come to a slump in your writing? What parts of your stories do you usually find the slump occurring? 

NaNoWriMo: Just dropping by!

So it's already the end of day 4 here of NaNoWriMo and I've been furiously writing (actually wondering why I can't write like this on any other day other than during NanoWriMo).

I'm actually quite thrilled at my progress. At the end of day one I already had a whopping 10k (hey I decided to stay up and start right at midnight and got 3k before bed). Then to see if I could keep that up, I decided to top that, well actually match it, and on the 2nd day I achieved 20k.

Knowing I'm going at a good rate, I did slow down over the next two days, but I have actually been achieving good targets - so I have no idea why I decided to put a writer's block image up. There was only one scene that got me absolutely stumped and I'll have to do a total rewrite of it during my edits. The scene takes place at a superhero convention and my character (who is supposed to be working as security) gets into a hero/villain battle and loses control of her power and totally trashes the convention hall.

That's my update from the Nano Zone.
Total words written: 25k
Total cups of coffee drunk: too many to keep count

If you're doing Nano (& are crazy enough to be reading this) how are you going? If you're not, what are you doing this month?

What are you doing this Nano Eve?

Okay, for the first time since I've started attempting NanoWriMo novels, I don't actually have to work or do anything (other than write) on the 1st November, so I'm attempting possibly the most crazy feat I have ever attempted - that's pulling an all nighter and starting right on the chime of midnight and seeing how much of my novel I can get written before I crash.

Working on another WiP as well as watching movies galore just to keep busy as the clock counts down. Even as I write this there's still 5 minutes until Nano starts, and now this is the time when all the doubts start to creep into my mind:

• Is my idea good enough?
• Can I get a novel out of the plot I have created?
• Will I be able to start the story or just stare at the blank page for the first few hours?

It's not just with Nano, every novel ideas comes the same thoughts. I'm just hoping I've thought through this novel, but I am looking forward to jumping into it (and getting the excuse of being a nerd and reading/watching any form of media with nothing but superheroes for the month). The one problem I do have with my novel is that it is technically two separate stories and I think I need to write it as two stories before I can combine the two characters POVs into one big story... oh well, more the fun.

What have you been doing on the Nano eve/Halloween?

Just a Nano Post...

It's getting close to that time of the year again, and yes, I will be participating in NanoWriMo once again. For those that don't know what NanoWriMo is, 1: have you been living under a rock, and 2: it's national novel writing month where the goal is to write 50k in one month. I absolutely love Nano because it helps me get motivated and push myself to achieve my deadlines.

This year was definitely hard with deciding what novel to write (I have so many that really need to be written), but since I need to start a novel from scratch, and most of my other novels I've gotten a little bit complete, I've decided to go with a YA superhero story about a world full of 'adult' heroes and villains and one teenager who decides to challenge authority by giving teenagers powers. It will be told from dual perspectives of twins, Jett and Jace who end up with powers and it will technically be their origin story.

As I sat down to plot it yesterday I realised that a superhero story definitely is going to take a lot of work. There's the entire world I need to create and all the rules for the super powers and backstories for all the characters... oh well, I still have 15 days left until Nano officially begins. I'm really hoping I can achieve it because I already have a cool theme park/rollercoaster battle sequence in mind for one of the hero/villain fights and I'm looking forward to writing it.

Are you doing Nano? If yes, have you decided what you're writing?

Ready, set, go...

Can you believe it's already November? All the writers competing in NaNoWriMo were all getting ready to pounce on their novel as soon as the clock struck twelve. Me, I got up very early to get a good head start (4:30 am... yes, that hour does exist), but it all failed since I spent all morning preparing for school.

Don't be disheartened. At the end of the day I still made over 2000 words (that's a good effort for the first day). I probably could have gotten more words done if I didn't have to constantly check facts (well, that serves me right for choosing to right a novel that takes place in Japan). Oh well, I do  love a challenge and I'll love introducing readers to the fantastic paranormal creatures that exists within another culture (I've already got plans for a Shinigami, Zashiki Warashi and a Kitsune).

Good luck to all writers participating in NaNoWriMo.

If you are participating how are you going? Did you get off to a good start?

Nanowrimo

It's that time of year again, where writers everywhere are preparing to write a crazy 50,000 words in one month. For those that don't know, November is the month of caffeine, chocolate and sleepless nights as writers push to make it past the finish line.

With there being less than a month until the hectic mayhem starts, I'm busy trying to plot my idea. October is usually the month that most of the plotters spend getting all the details of their novels worked out (while I know several who have absolutely no idea what to write up to 11:59pm on the 31st October and have still powered through the 50,000 words). So, this month is going to be exceptionally busy for me.

Okay, I'm being a bit ambitious this year. I've had this story idea brewing for a few months, but I wasn't going to start writing it until I go to Japan on holiday in January. So, what does my holiday to Japan have to do with it? Well, it's actually because the story is based in Japan and I've been researching like mad all the elements of Japanese culture (such as home life and schools) that no holiday can tell me.

It would probably be the best idea to wait, but I've been to Japan before so I know the rough locations where I'm setting the novel, and my character really, really, really wants to be written. So, here's an introduction to my Nano novel titled Shinigami Eyes (it's a YA supernatural mystery):

After an incident at a school dance almost got her date killed 16-year-old Rin is sent to live with her grandparents in Japan. Being the new girl is hard, but also being told by crazed Otaku (someone obsessed with anime/manga) Matthew that she is a character in a manga called Shinigami Eyes that he recons can tell the future is something that she can't handle. 

 She tries to ignore Matthew's attempts to persuade her that she is indeed a character until the manga shows her standing over a dead body. Now Rin, with Matthew's help, has to discover the identity of this person and why she would want to kill them, before the manga becomes a reality.

Apart from finishing my research, my planning is going to involve creating a wide cast of characters, plotting my mystery elements and even figuring out 'who did it' and 'murder victim'... even though my brother suggests to just write it and as he says "see who wants to jump under the knife". I'm excited to start planning for this because there's going to be manga, witches and murder... what else could anyone need?

So, who's participating in Nano? If you are, have you thought about what you're writing? And are you a pantser or plotter?

A post in which I admit defeat

Okay, I know it's only the first week of Nano, but I do know when the sensible thing to do is give up. Just too many things have been thrown at me this month. In 3 weeks I go over to Japan (and the planning never ends),  not to mention work to pay for said Japan trip, I've got one Shakespeare course that I really, really have to pass, and now I have to also get things packed up so I can move at the end of the year. This week I received a call saying I've got a permanent teaching job for the start of term 1 in January.

So many things that I have to get done. That doesn't mean I'm going to give up on my Nano novel. I actually love the idea that my new time frame is to have it complete by Christmas time (so I'm just aiming to complete Nano in two months rather than just the one).

Yeah, so how is everyone else's November's going?

So much drama means little Nano...

Why does November have to be a month packed with so much drama? I somehow injured my back at the end of last month and I'm also trying to finish preparing for a trip to Japan which is at the end of the month. 

And, if that's not a lot, my sister and her boyfriend has recently moved into our small 3 bedroom townhouse (that makes 5 people living under the one roof) and it makes it hard to concentrate especially since I need to walk on egg shells so I don't upset anyone, and now I've turned to going and sitting out by the pool to get some "ME" time.

I have found out some things:

• It's hard to write when there's people around making noise.
• It's emotionally draining to try and fit family and writing and holiday planning into the one day (boy, I was asleep before 8:30).
• Sitting by the pool in Spring might be quiet, but my feet have been eaten alive by mosquitoes.

It's only the start of the month and I'm already tired. I'm just going to keep powering on and telling myself "I can do it!"

Are you having any better luck with Nano? What do you do to get away from distractions?

Let it Begin!

Where did the month of October go? It's now November and NanoWriMo has officially started down here in Australia and I'm hoping all my planning hasn't been in useless. This is the first year I've got a pretty solid idea about the novel and where I want it to go. All I have to do is meet the 2k limit I've set for me each day and I'm sweet.

And now I'm here, really trying to figure out how to start the novel... dang, I hate finding that first sentence. You can find me under cherry_chez over at the NanoWriMo site. Good luck to all those participating.

So, who else is getting excited about Nano? What sort of planning did you do for the novel? If you're not participating, do you have anything exciting planned for November?

Can't believe it's nearly November

This year I've signed up for NanoWriMo (again). For those that don't know, it's the National Novel Writing Month and the goal is to write 50k in one month. I'm lucky this year I have several ideas floating around, and I have already started plotting. This is a lot better than last year when I ended up having no idea at the start of November.

November is looking to be a quiet month for me with only one uni course and work to contend with, but since I'm going to Japan at the end of the month, I'll need to push myself to get more at the beginning.

So, what am I writing? A YA Horror by the name of The Making of Amber Wright (seriously I had the title before I even had the character for this one).

A mysterious girl with no memories and only a restaurant badge with the name Amber wanders into town and is taken in by the town doctor. As her memories begin to return she starts to question what is real and whether these memories are even hers. This is made worse by the appearance of faceless ghosts and creatures intent on getting to her.

When people start disappearing and only she can remember them, she starts to question "who exactly is Amber Wright?"


I'm actually looking forward to tackling this novel and can't wait for November to begin so I can jump straight in.

Who else is crazy has signed up to NanoWriMo? Have you got any idea of what to write yet?

NanoWrimo Day 20: Why is November always hectic?

 

Who can blame November for being so busy, what with the release of the latest Harry Potter movie. And yes, I did see it at the Midnight screening (and it was fantastic), the only bad decision we made that night was choosing to go to a midnight screening the day that we were also planning a 15 hour car drive (not that I'm regretting it... the movie was well worth it).

So, after finishing the movie at 2:30 am, my brother and I met up with our parents and started the long journey back to my country home to attend my sister's graduation. It was an interesting drive, but we managed to stay awake the whole time (with little power naps while the other drove) with the help of energy drinks and sugar.

I'm glad November is nearly over, then I'll possibly be able to relax.

P.S. my favourite part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part I is a toss up between the Godric's Hollow scene and the torture scene with Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bohem Carter is perfect in this role).

.

So, have you, or are you planning to, seen this movie? If you have, which is your favourite scenes?

NanoWriMo Report: Just Checking In

It's definitely been hectic around here. Even working 3 days at my new job and trying to write as well as planning to go home for my sister's graduation, I haven't had time to do much else.

So, here's the rundown:
Writing: 42111
Sleep: Probably no more than 5 hours at night (can't wait for November to be over)
Mood: Excited... not at writing or anything. I've got my midnight screening tickets for Harry Potter and that's less than a day away (YAY!)

So, how's everyone else going?

NanoWriMo: Day 5 - Will somebody kill me

Okay, so it's 5 days in to NanoWriMo and already I'm behind (and it was such a good start). Well, technically it's day 6 because it's 1.30 am on Saturday and I'm sitting in front of the computer stuffing my face with a Macdonalds hamburger. Why, because I've just finished my first day of work in so long and every part of me is sore. Luckily, there's a 24hour Maccas on the way home (with a little detor).

Words written today: 0
Words written yesterday: 500
Boy, I'm just fantastic, aren't I.

So, how is everyone else doing?

Nanowrimo: Day 3 - Getting Away From Distractions

So, today I wrote 1845 words, which I'm surprised because I didn't feel in the mood to write during the day, so it all came to me at night.

Why couldn't I write during the day? I'm blaming all the distractions available to me, especially the games on Facebook. So the tip for today is to get away from distractions.

These distractions can come from:

• The internet
• Computer
• Family members wanting attention
• Prior events that have been planned
• Housework that you suddenly feel in the mood to do
• The need to go out and buy coffee (I don't know if that's actually a distraction or a need when writing)

What can you do?

• Find a quiet place to write
• Lock yourself in a room with a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the handle
• Disconnect the internet
• Tell your family they need to book a time to see you
• Get someone to do the coffee drive
• You probably couldn't ignore prior events (but losing your car keys is a good excuse that you can't make it)

So, how are you going so far? And, if you're not writing, what have you been up to?

And Nano's Begun

DAY 1...

So, NanoWriMo's begun and I'm off to an okay start (not as good as I would have liked since I've been up since 5am and trying to write most of the day).

After staring at the computer, trying to figure out that perfect first sentence (and rewriting the first 200 words several times), I finally got started, even though the story isn't trying to stick to any of my plotting that I did the previous month.

I'm actually surprised that I've made it this far today because with the forums and everything, there's plenty to do to "procrastinate" that I'm surprised that I actually got around to any writing.

Well, now I'm off to bed probably when most people will just be getting a start on day 1. I wish everyone good luck as they jump straight into their novels.

So, is everyone set to start Nano (if you're doing it). How are you going to keep yourself away from the forums and other internet distractions long enough to write?

Getting ready for November

November's right around the corner and it's time to think of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Lucky I've had several story ideas this year that I'm going to be able to utilise, and spend the rest of the month to plot the idea.

For those that don't know, the object of NaNoWriMo is to write 50,000 words in the month of November. Why would I do such a thing? It's a great challenge (actually forcing me to write every day) and it also gives me the opportunity to meet up with writers (which is always the best part of it).

Who out there are participating in NaNoWriMo?

Flying Blind

Is it easier to write from an outline or off the top of your head? Well, for me, I usually have some sort of outline done up, even though I hardly ever stick to the outline. Just having something to help give me some sort of clue as to where the story's going to end up really helps me out.

But, stupid me. When it came to Nano I didn't even have much of an idea on November 1st that I didn't have enough time to create any outline. Now, I haven't a clue where I'm going to go. 2,000 words in and already I'm starting to doubt whether I can create any decent novel. I'm really biting my tongue at the moment because I feel like ditching my efforts for the second time (I can't do that or I'll end up with nothing at the end of the month).

When it comes to serious hit-the-wall writers block, what is the best way to get out of it? And that doesn't include ditching the little bit I've got, because I need something to work from.

After day one...

After getting off to a very, very, very, very, very... okay, one more very... bad start, I've managed to crawl up and get 1,711 words. And, the thing that amazes me the most is I think the story actually makes sense. I know, in-cred-i-ble.

Well, now I thinik I've deserved a good night sleep, mainly so I can get up bright and early in the morning and get a jump on tomorrows word count. The good thing about tomorrow is that I've got the entire day off (well, except for the bit where I promised that I'd do a bit of the house work... I know stupid me).

Yay for the start of Nano, and let's hope tomorrow is just as productive (but less riddled with despair). Well, nighty night out there in blog land, I think I've deserved a good rest after today.

How to Turn that Inner Editor Off?

How should I know, I was hoping you could tell me.

The hardest part of NanoWriMo (except for the reaching 50,000 words thing) is tuning out the inner editor. I had written about 500 words before I told myself that was utter garbage and scrapped it.

The only way I can see myself doing well this year is to only care about the story being told, the sentence structure and grammar (and dare I say it, even spelling) can wait until revisions start in December.

Now, after chilling a bit (before I bite the head off my brother) and watching the Covenant for inspiration, I'm going to take a deep breath and try to get at least 1,000 words out before the day's through. Yes, I know I'll be behind, but I'll definitely be able to catch up tomorrow (I hope).